Bagmaking machine and method of producing bags



Oct. 17, 1944. MURRAY BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING BAGS Filed Jan. 19, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l bllllkil ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1944. J. L. MURRAY BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING BAGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1942 ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1944. J. L. MURRAY 2,360,510

BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING BAGS Filed Jan. 19, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BY amt/1 ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1944. J. 1.. MURRAY BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING BAGS Filed Jan. 19, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Z v BY 8% QLM LL4Q ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1944 BAGMAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING BAGS John L. Murray, Boston, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation oi Massachusetts Application January 19, 1942, Serial No. 427,223

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a bag making machine and to a method of producing bags including the attachment of a handle comprising a string and tag to the bags.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a bag making machine for forming. filling and closing bags of the envelope type, and in which provision is made for attaching a handle comprising a string and a tag to each bag in a novel, economical and superior manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of producing individual filled and closed bags of the envelope type by which a handle comprising a string and tag may be attached thereto during the process of manufacture thereof in an efilcient, economical, rapid and practical manner.

With these general objects in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the bag making machine and in the methods of making bags, and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a tea bagging machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown with the upper section removed and partly in cross section as viewed from tip line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end view detail of the tag feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views in vertical side elevation as viewed from the left in Fig. 1, of the string introducing and string cutting mechanism respectively, -to be hereinafter referred to; Fig. 7 is a detail view in side eleva tion of the bag severing mechanism; Fig. 8 is a view of the completed bag with string and tag attached as produced in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of string and tag attaching mechanism embodying the present invention.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel method of and also novel apparatus for the production of bags from a web of bag forming material wherein the web is operated upon to produce a strip of connecting bag sections, each having a closed bottom and open top. Provision is made for folding the web longitudinally and for sealing the strip thus formed transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of the bags. Provision is also made for filling the bag sections with a quantity of tea or other material and for severing the filled bag sections from the strip. In the preferred form of tea bagging machine embodying the present invention, provision is made for transferring the individual filled bag sections thus severed from the strip into successive conveying pockets or holding members arranged in predetermined spaced relation. While the bags are being thus conveyed, provision is made for introducing a section of a continuous length of string, having tags attached thereto at predetermined spaced intervals, between the walls of the open top of successive bags and for sealing the tops of the bags to seal the string section therebetween. Provision is also made for cutting the attached string sections to provide an individual string and tag for each bag section.

Provision is also made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for feeding the tags and for attaching successive tags to the continuous length of string at predetermined spaced intervals arranged to operate in timed relation to the travel of the spaced bag holding members of the bag holding conveyer. cessive portions of the continuous length of string are introduced into the open ends of successive spaced bag sections in a manner such as to provide an individual tag for each bag section. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is also made for guiding the string between bag 5 ctions to provide a greater length of string theiebetween than the afiual space between successivespaced bag sections while the latter are held in said holding members or pockets. In this manner strings and tags may be attached to successive individual bag sections in a rapid and economical manner during the continuous movement of the bags and during the operation of sealing the top thereof.

\ Referring now to the dii'iwings, l0 represents a web of bag forming material preferably comprising a paper web impregnated with or provided with a coating of thermo-plastic adhesive. The web in of bag forming material may be withdrawn from a supply roll I! and passed through suitable forming guides, not shown, which operate to fold the web lengthwise into substantially V-shape. The thermo-plastic, either as a coating or impregnant, is preferably of a character capable when heated and pressed of sealing together opposed portions of the web.

Provision is made for operating upon the web ID of bag forming material to form a strip comprising a series of individual bag sections 22 each Thus, in operation, suchaving a closed bottom and open top and connected by sealed side seams 24, and in the illustrated apparatus which is designed for the production of paper tea bags, the web I after being folded longitudinally, is passed between driven presser rolls 26, 20 one or both of which may be heated. A herein shown, the presser rolls 26, 28 are provided with opposed contacting portions 30, 32 arranged to cooperatively engage and press the strip at spaced intervals to produce the transverse side seams 24. The heat sealing material may and preferably will be of a quick-drying character so that a firm bond is provided at the side seams 24 immediately upon the application of the heat and pressure. In its travel to and from the rolls 26, 28, the strip may be supported along its bottom edges by guides 25, 21.

The circumferential spacing of the contacting portions 30, 32 of each presser roll is such as to produce the equally spaced transverse side seams 24, and, in operation, the rollers are rotated in timed relation to the rate of movement of the strip through connections from the main driving shaft including the cooperating gears 40, 42 mounted upon the vertical shafts 44, 46 respectively. The shaft 44 is connected by a chain and sprocket drive 48 to a vertical shaft 50 which in turn is connected to the main driving shaft 52 through bevel gears 54, 66. As shown in Fig, 2, the main shaft 52 may be driven from any usual or preferred source through a belt connection 58.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, as therein shown, provision is made for successively lowering a plurality of filling tubes or funnels 60 between the folds of the bag forming material prior to the sealing of the side seams 24 so that as the strip is advanced, the bag sections are formed about the lower ends of the tubes. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the tubes 60 are carried by an endless chain 62 arranged to run over sprockets 64, 66 one of which 64 is secured to and arranged to be driven by the vertical shaft 50 whereby the tubes 60 are caused to be continuously moved. The filling tubes 60 are arranged to be lowered and raised into and out of operative relation with the strip by mechanism including a stat onary cam I0. As herein shown, each tube is mounted in a bracket 12 slidable vertically in a member 74 attached to the chain 62 and arranged to be guided at its lower end in an angle rail I5. Each bracket 12 is provided with a roller 16 arranged to cooperate with the cam as the tubes are advanced by the chain 62 to present the lower end port on of a tube into each of the bag sections and to subsequently effect withdrawal of the tubes therefrom. It will be seen that the shape of the sealing rollers 26, 28 permit passage of the tubes therebetween as the strip is advanced.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, after the filling tubes or funnels 60 are lowered between the folds of the bag making material and the side seams 24 have been sealed, the tubes are arranged to pass a continuously operat ng material feeding device, as indicated generally at 18, adapted to feed a substantially uniform stream of the commodity to be packaged. The filling tubes are provided with flared edges 19 at their upper ends, adjacent edges of successive tubes being arranged in contiguous engagement, so that in operation, the continuously advancing funnels 60 are each provided with a predetermined quantity of the commodity being packaged. The position of the feeding device with relation to the filling tubes is preferably such that the material is not deposited into the bag sections until after the transverse seals 24 have been made. i

As herein shown provision is made for grasping the web between cooperating gripper fingers 80, 82 carried by continuously moving endless chains 04, 86 respectively to effect withdrawal of the web from the roll I2 and to advance the web past the presser rolls 26, 28 and into registered position with relation to bag severing mechanism, indicated generally at 90, to effect severance of successive endmost bag sections through the side seams 24. The endless chains 84, 86 are arranged to run over sprockets 88, 90 and 92, 94 respectively which are mounted upon similar vertical shafts 96, 98 and I00, I02. As illustrated in Figs.

, 1 and 2, the chains are arranged to be driven through a chain and sprocket drive I04 from the shaft 46 to the shaft I00 and through cooperating spur gears I06, I08 connecting the shafts I02, 98 and arranged to drive the chains 84, 86 in unison. The driving connections are designed to move the gripper fingers 80, 82 along in timed relation to the filling tubes 60 and the transverse sealing members 26, 28.

The severing mechanism 90, as best shown in Figs. 1 and '7, comprises a pair of shears I I0, H2, arranged to be operated in definite timed relation to the movement of the grippers 80, 82 to effect severance of the bag sections through the sealed side seams 24, as above described. The shears are preferably arranged to be rocked up into operative position during the continuous movement of the strip and also to be moved laterally along with the strip during the cutting operation whereupon the shears are retracted and again brought into operative position to sever a succeeding side seam. As herein shown, the

shears H0, H2 are carried upon one end of an arm H4 pivotally mounted upon a shaft H6 to permit vertical rocking movement, and provided with a hinged connection H8 to permit lateral rockin movement. Vertical rocking movement of the shear carrying arm H4 is effected by a cam I20, mounted fast upon the main driving shaft 52, and a cooperating cam roll H2 carried by an arm I24 secured to the shaft H6. A spring I26 connected to the arm I24 serves to hold the roller I22 against its cam. Lateral rocking movement of the shear carrying arm H4 is effected by an open barrel cam I28, fast on the shaft 52, and a cooperating roller I30 carried by a lever I32 pivotally mounted-at I34 in a bracket I36 secured to the machine frame. The lever I32 is connected by a link I38 to the shear carrying arm H4 through the medium of universal joint connections I40. A spr ng I42 serves to hold the roller I30 against its cam I28.

One of the shear members, H0 is fixed to the shear carrying arm H4 and, as herein shown, the second shear member H2 is pivotally carried thereon to enable it to be moved into cooperating engagement with the shear H0 to perform the shearing operation. This movement of the shear member H2 is effected during the upward rocking movement of the arm H4 by a stationary cam piece H4, supported from the machine frame, and a cooperating roller I46 carried by an arm I48 formed as an extension of a shear supporting member I50 to which the shear H2 is attached as shown in Fig. 7. A spring connection I52 between the member I50 and the arm H4 serves to hold the roller I46 against the stationary cam piece I44.

From the description thus far it will be observed that in the operation of the machine the walls of the mouth portion of a succeeding bag. It will be observed that this movement of the inserting member I96 also effects withdrawal of a, predetermined length of string from the supply roller 204. During the string inserting operation, the stretch of string between successive bags is looped over an adjacent pin 2 I8 and is retained above the bags by the pin traveling along therewith at the same rate of speed as the spaced bags. It will be observed that the pins 2I8 are spaced to provide one pin between adjacent spaced bags and that the relative position of the pins above the bags determines the length of the stretch of string between successive bags and necessarily corresponds to the length of string withdrawn from the supply roll 204 during each operation of the inserting member I96. It will be understood that, in practice, the distance between the equally spaced bags may be more or less than the relative proportions illustrated or the bags may be moved along in contiguous relationship during the inserting operation, and also that the relative distance of the pins 2I8 above the bags may vary to obtain the desired length of string between successive bags. I

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, the tag attaching mechanism 2I0 includes tag feeding mechanism 240, tag cutting mechanism 242, and a stapling head 244 arranged to be operated to'secure a tag to the string each time the latter comes to rest after being pulled forward by the operation of the inserting blade I96. As herein shown, a strip 246 of connected tags is arranged to be withdrawn from a supply roll 248 thereof by an intermittently operated feed roll 250 in cooperation with an idler roll 252 arranged to hold the strip in engagement with the feed roller 250. The feed roller is provided with teeth 254 arranged to engage the notched portions 256 in the tag strip. The feed roller is .mounted upon a shaft 258 and is provided with a ratchet 260 formed integrally therewith arranged to cooperate with a spring pressed pawl 262 carried in a lever 264 pivotally mounted on the shaft 258. An open barrel cam 266 mounted fast on the end of a shaft 268 is arranged to cooperate with a roller 210 carried by the lever 264 to rock the latter and to advance the strip one tag length each cycle of operation of the machine. A spring 212 connected to the lever 264 operates to hold the roller against its cam 266. The shaft 268 is arranged to be driven through connections from the vertical shaft 232 including bevel gears 214, 216 connecting the shafts 268, 218, and bevel gears 280, 282

connecting the shaft 218 with the vertical shaft 232 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the strip of tags thus fed. are guided in a, channel member 290 topresent the endmost tag in an anvil member 292 and in alignment with the string passing therethrough in which position the stapling head 244 is operated to attach the endmost tag to the string. The stapling head 244 may comprise any usual or preferred type of stapling mechanism arranged to be depressed in the usual manner to perform the stapling operation, and, as herein illustrated, the depression of the head may be eifected by a cam 294 mounted fast on the shaft 268 and which is arranged to cooperate with a roller 296 carried in one arm 296 of a lever pivotally mounted in a bracket 300. The second arm 302 of the lever is arranged to engage the top of the vertically reciprocative member 304 of the stapling mechanism, a coil spring 306 operating to urge the member in an upward direction and into engagement with the arm 302. A suitable holder 308 for carrying and feeding a supply of the staple forming material may also be provided, as shown.

Simultaneously with the stapling operation, the cutter 242, comprising a stationary shear member 3"] attached to the anvil 292, and a movable shear member 3I2 is arranged to be operated to cut the .endmost tag from the strip. The movable shear 3I2 is carried by one arm 3 of a bell crank pivotally mounted at 3I6, the second arm 3I9 beingprovided with a roller 320 arranged to cooperate with a cam 322 mounted fast on the cam shaft 268. A suitable spring, not shown, may be connected to the arm 3I8 to hold the roller 320 against its cam.

From the description thus far it will be apparent that during the operation of the machine, the continuous length of string I92 is provided with a tag I94 each time the string comes to rest after being drawn forwardly by the operation of the string inserting member I96 so as to provide a series of tags on the string in uniformly spaced relation. Upon withdrawal of the inserting member I96 and sealing of the string between the walls of the mouth of a bag, the continuous movement of the bag in which the string is held will place tension upon the string. It will also be apparent that in the event the stapling head 244 is in operative engagement with the string during this movement so as to prevent unwinding of the string from the roll 204, the stretch of string between the stapling head and the bag would ordinarily be subjected to undue strain. However, as herein shown, in order to relieve any such strain during this period of operation, a loop 324 is provided in the stretch of string leading from the stapling head to the bag, arranged to substantially compensate for the forward pull on the string during this operation. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the loop 324 is formed by the weighted roller 2I2 which is carried by an arm 326 pivotally mounted at 328 in a bracket extending from the machine frame. The roller 3I2 is weighted sufficiently to eflect unwinding of a length of string from the supply roll 204 to form the loop 324 during the time when the string is free from the influence of the stapling head. The roll 204 may and preferably will be provided with suitable braking means so as to prevent an overdraft of the string, and, as herein shown, in order to adjust the tension required to obtain the loop 324, a counterweight 330 is provided on an extension 332 from the arm 326. Thus, when the string is pulled forward by the continuous movement of the bags being carried in the pockets I54, the loop 324 is taken up, the .arm 326 rocking on its pivot at this time, whereupon, when the string is free from the stapling head, the loop is again formed by the roller 2I2. It will be observed that the loop thus formed relieves the tension on the string and prevents an undue strain on the string portion which has been inserted and sealed into a bag.

It will be observed that successive pins 2I8 engage the continuous length of string I92 immediately in advance of the successive equally spaced tags I94 so that as the string portions are inserted and sealed into the mouths of the bags, a loop or stretch of string 333 having one tag attached thereto, is extended between adjacent bags and supported above the bags by the continuously moving pins. In the operation of the machine, the sealing rollers I98, 200 are arranged to cooperate with the inserting member I96 so filled bag sections having their side seams sealed are grasped by the gripper fingers 88, 82 preferably at a point adjacent the rear edge of a side seam and that the bag sections are cut through the medial line of each side seam as they are being moved along by the grippers. As shown in Pig. 7, the cam piece I44 is designed so as to effect opening of the shear members IIII, Hg, as indicated in dotted lines, when the shear carrying arm II4 isrodked to its lowered position, and that the shears are brought together to perform the shearing operation when the arm I I4 is rocked upwardly into operative engagement with the strip. Th cam I28 for effective lateral movement of the shearing unit is designed to move the shears along at the same rate of speed as the strip, this lateral movement being relatively small during the short period of time required to effect severance so that the lateral arcuate movement of the shear carrying arm will not be sufficient to effect disalignment of the shears with relation to the strip. Immediately upon severance of the strip the shears are caused to be lowered to their open position and retracted laterally into position for registration with a succeeding side seam.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be observed that successive pairs of grippers 80, 82 are arranged to carry their respective bag sections along after severance from the strip so that adjacent edges of the individual bag sections are in contiguous engagement and that during their conveyance the bag sections are maintained substantially in their open mouth condition, as produced by the filling tubes 60 during the side seam sealing operation and as maintained by the material depositedin the bag sections. The individual bag sections being thus conveyed are arranged to be transferred into successive spaced pockets I54 carried by an endless conveyer chain I56 arranged to run over sprockets I58, I60 mounted upon shafts I62, I64 respectively which are journaled in brackets I66, I68 attached to the machine frame. The conveyer chain I56 is arranged to be drivenat a relatively faster rate.

of speed than the gripper chains 84, 66 whereby the individual bag sections are separated and are carried along'in spaced relation during the operation of the machine, asillustrated in Fig. 1. The driving connections to the chain I56 include the bevel gears I10, I12 connecting the main driving shaft 52 with the sprocket shaft I82.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, each pocket I54 comprises a pair of double arms I14, I16 pivotally mounted in a bracket I18 attached to the conveyer chain I56. The double arms I14, I16 are provided with extensions I80, I82 respectively which are connected by a spring I84 tending to urge the arms I14, I16 into clamping engagement. Provision is made for operating the clamping arms to effect opening and closing thereof at appropriate times during their-travel and, as herein shown, the extensions I80, I82 are arranged to cooperate with a stationary cam I86 supported by angle brackets I88 from the machine frame. The stationary cam 85 is arranged with respect to the extensions I80, I82 to efiect spreading thereof to open the arms I 14, I16 and to permit release thereof to close the arms during the continuous movement of the pockets.

In operation, successive pockets I54 are brought into position to engage successive endmost bag sections being delivered by the grippers 80, 82 and simultaneously upon release of a bag section by the grippers E0, 62, as the latter are carried around the sprockets 88, 84 by their respective chains 84, 88, the clamping arms I14, I18 are released to grasp an individual bag section adiacent the side seams thereof, the individual bag sections being still maintained in their open mouthed condition. The pockets I84 being-driven at a faster rate than the grippers 88, 82, the endmost bag section thus grasped is carried away from its succeeding bag section to effect separation thereof whereupon the next succeeding pocket I84 is brought into clamping position to the succeeding bag section, as described. .i'

As the open mouthed bag sections or individual iilled bags are being thus carried along in spaced relation provision is made for attaching a string and tag to each bag. In general, and as herein illustrated. the mechanism for attaching the string and tag includes string guiding and supporting mechanism, indicated generally. at I88, for guiding a continuous length of string I82, having a series of tags I84 attached thereto at predetermined spaced intervals, in a manner such as to dispose the continuous length of string above the open mouthed bags being conveyed and in a position to be engaged by a strin inserting member I88 arranged to be operated to tuck a portion of the string into each bag between the walls of the mouth portion, so as to provide a stretch of string having a tag attached, between successive bags. Immediately upon the introduction of a string portion into the mouth of a bag, the top portion of the bag is passed between a pair of rollers I88, 200 arranged to apply heat and pressure to close the mouth of the bag and to seal the string portionbetween the walls thereof. Thereafter, the stretch of string between successive bags is cut by an oscillating member 282 so as to provide an individual string and tag for each individual bag.

In practice, the string I82 may be plain, that is, untreated so that th heat sealing adhesive in the bag material operates to retain the string in the bag, or, the string may itself be provided with a coating or impregnant of thermoplastic adhesive. As herein shown, the string I82 is withdrawn from a supply roll 204 and guided through loops 206, 208, :past tag attaching mechanism, indicated generally at 2I0, and thence over guide rollers 2I2, 2I4, 2I6 and over one of a series of traveling pins 2| 8 forming part of the string supporting mechanism I to dispose the string in operative position above the bags to be engaged by the string inserting member I88. As herein shown, the string supporting pns 2I8 are carried by an endless chain 220 arranged to be driven in timed relation to the bags being conveyed in the pockets I-54. The chain 220 is arranged to run over sprockets 222, 224 one of which, 222, is loosely mounted upon the vertical shaft 88, the other sprocket, 224, being mounted fast on a vertical shaft 226. The shaft 226 is arranged to be driven from the mar'n driving shaft 52 through connections including spur gears 228, 280 connecting the shaft 226 to a vertical shaft 232, and bevel gears 284, 236 connecting the vertical shaft 232 to the main driving shaft 52 as'best shown in Fig. 6.

In operation, the continuous length of string I82 extending from the supply roll 204 and being held at one end in the sealed mouth portion of a preceding bag is stretched between the guide roller 2I6 and over an adjacent traveling pin 2I8 in which position the string is engaged by the notched portion I of the inserting member I88 to introduce a portion of the string between the 8, the sealed portion of the stringcomprises an inclined portion 335 representing the-portion stretched between the bag and a preceding pin 2I8, a. horizontal portion 331 effected by the inserting member during the, time the lattervis stationary in its lowermost position, and an inclined portion 339 effected during the withdrawal of the inserting member and representing the portion stretched'between the bag and a succeeding pin 2I8. As herein shown, the sealing. rollers I98, 200, one'or both of which may be heated, are

supported upon vertical shafts 334, 336' and are connected together to operate in unison by'spur walls of the strip. The web is then drawn past 7 sealing rollers 26, 26 which operate to form gears 338, 340. The rollers may and Preferably Thereafter, in the operation of the machine,'

the stretch of string connecting adjacent bags is cut by the operation of the rocking member 202- which, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, is provided at its operative end with a thin blade 203, preferably a razor blade. The member 202 is arranged to be rocked in timed relation to the movement of the bags so as to effect severing of the string between a tag and a succeeding ba whereby to provide a string and tag for each individual bag. As herein shown, the inserting member I96 and the cutter supporting member 202 are arranged to be simultaneously operated through the parallel linkage, shownin Fig. l. The member I96 is carried on an arm 350 pivotally mounted at 352, and the member202 is attached to one arm 354 of a two-armed lever pivotally mounted at 356, the arms 350, 354 being connected together by a link 359 tooperate the arms in unison and in timed relation to the travel of the bag supporting members I54. The parallever 364, and a link 366 connected to the second arm 368 of the two-armed lever above referred to. The lever 364- is pivotally mounted in a bracket 310, and, as herein shown, a second arm 312 extending from the lever 364 is provided with a spring 314 attached thereto to hold the cam roller 362 against its cam.

During the subsequent movement of the bag, with its individual string and tag attached, as it is carried around the sprocket I60 in its holder I54, the jaws I14, I16 of the holder are caused to spread apart by the stationary cam rail I86 just as the holder is entering the lower run of thep conveyer whereby to release the completed bag from its holder. As herein shown, the bags thus released are arranged to fall uponan outtransverse sideseams'in the strip'between the inserted funnels whereupon the latter are arranged to deposit predetermined charges of material into the individual bag sections. Thereupon the funnels 60 are withdrawn and the connected bag sections are severed by the shearing mechanism 60 while the strip is being supported by the travelling grippers 80,- 82. "Thebags are then transferred from the grippers to the pockets I54 which, being arranged to travel at a higher rate of speed-thanthe grippers, operate to separate the bags and to present the open tops of the bags into operative relation to the string inserting mechanism. The continuous length of string I92 is unwound from the roll 204 and led past the tagging mechanism 2"] where the tags I94 are attached to the string at spaced intervals wheregoing conveyer belt 316 disposed beneath the holders to convey the finished bags away from the machine. Suitable side rails 318 may be provided to guide and retain the bags on the belt.

From the above description of the construc- I tion and mode of operation of the machine 11- lustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, it will be observed that in the operation of the machine, briefly summarized, the web of paper I0 formed into a V- shape is continuous]; withdrawn from the supupon the string is guided abovethe bags to be engaged by the inserting member I96 which operates to insert portions of the string between adjacent tags into the mouth of successive bags. Thereupon the string portions are sealed into the mouths of the bags by sealing rollers I98, 200 to close the tops of the bags, the stretch of string between adjacent bags being supported" and looped over the travelling pins 2 I 8 disposed above and arranged to move in timed relation to the bags. Thereafter, the string is severed by the member 202 between a tag and a succeeding bag whereupon the bag is released from its pocket and permitted to fall on the conveyor belt 316 to be carried away from the machine.

Referring now to Fig. 9, as therein shown, a modified form of mechanism for inserting a continuous length of string, with tags attached, into the mouths of successive bags is arranged to seal the string throughout the entire length of the top seam of each of successive bags. As herein shown, the bags are supported in spaced relation in the continuously travelling holders I54, and are conveyed'into operative relation to the continuous length of string I92 provided with the spaced tags I94. Prior to the string inserting operation, the tops of the bags may be spread apart by a V-shaped forming member I91. The string with the tags attached is led over aroller 2I6' to align the string with the bags and guided between the walls of the mouth portion of the bags by travelling angle members 2I8' provided with v-shaped notches 22I arranged to hold the string down in the mouth portion while a pair of segmental heat sealing rollers I 96', 200' operates to seal the string into the top of the bag during the continuous travel ofv the bags.

The angle members 2I8' are carried on a chain 220 arranged to run over sprockets 222', 224' and may be driven from a shaft 226' through bevel gears 228', 230' as illustrated in Fig. 9. It will be observed that-two angle guide members 2 I8 are provided between adjacent bags and I thata tag I94 is provided in, each stretch of string between'adjacent bags. As herein shown, a pair of shears 202' is-arranged to sever the string between a tag and apreceding bag to profollowing claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described in combination, means for supporting an open mouthed bag, and means for securing a string to the bag including means for operatively supporting a length of string, means for inserting a portion of said length of string between the walls or the mouth of the bag, and means cooperating with said string supporting and inserting means for sealing the mouth of the bag with the inner walls of the mouth thereof in contact to seal the inserted portion of the string therein.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting a series of open mouthed bags, means for securing a string and tag to each bag including means for operatively supporting a continuous length of string above said bags, said string having a series of tags attached to said string at predetermined spaced intervals along the length thereof, means for inserting portions of said string intermediate successive tags to between the walls of the mouths of successive bags, and means cooperating with the string supporting and inserting means for sealing the mouths of the bags with the inner walls of their mouths in contact to seal the inserted string portions therebetween forming a series of bags connected by lengths of string and having a tag attached to said lengths of string between successive bags.

3. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting a series of open mouthed bags, means for securing a string and tag to each bag including means for operatively supporting a continuous length of string above said bags having a series of tags attached to said string at predetermined spaced intervals along the length thereof, means for inserting portions of said string between the walls of the mouths of successive bags, and means cooperating with the string supporting and inserting means for sealing the mouths of the bags with their inner Walls in contact to seal the inserted string portions therebetween formin a series of bags connected by lengths of string and having a tag attached to said lengths of string between successive bags and means for severing the lengths of string adjacent each tag to provide each bag with its individual string and tag.

4. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting and conveying a series of open mouthed bags in spaced relation, and means for securing a string and tag to successive bags including means for operatively supporting a continuous length of string above the bags having a series of tags attached to said string at predetermined spaced intervals, means for inserting portions of said string between the walls of the mouths of successive bags as they are being conveyed, means for sealing the mouths of the bags to seal the inserted string portions therebetween to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto extending between and connecting successive bags, and means for thereafter severing the strand adjacent a tag to provide each bag with its individual string and tag.

5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a conveyer, means carried by the conveyer for supporting a plurality of open mouthed bags in spaced relation, and means for securing a string and tag to each bag including means for supporting a roll of string, means for supporting a continuous length of the string, having a series of spaced tags, in operative position above said bags including a plurality of moving pins arranged to support the string and to travel in timed relation to said bag supporting conveyer, an inserting member arranged to engage the string thus supported and to insert a portion thereof between the walls of the mouths of successive bags as they are being conveyed, and means cooperating with the string supporting and inserting means for sealing the mouths of the bags to seal the inserted string portions therebetween so as to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto between successive bags, and means for severing the strand adjacent a tag to provide each bag with its individual string and tag.

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a conveyer, means carried by the conveyer for supporting a plurality of open mouthed bags in spaced relation, and means for securing a handle comprising a string and tag to each bag including means for supporting a roll of string, means for supporting the continuous length of string provided with equally spaced tags in operative position above said bags, an inserting member arranged to engage the string thus supported and to insert a portion thereof between the walls of the mouths of successive bags as they are being conveyed, said inserting member also operating to withdraw a predetermined length of string from said roll during each inserting operation, and a pair of sealing rolls arranged to cooperate with the string supporting and inserting means for sealing the mouths of the bags with their inner walls in contact to seal the inserted string portions therebetween so as to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto between successive bags, and means for severing the strand adjacent a tag to provide each bag with its inindividual string and tag.

7. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting and conveying a series of open mouthed bags in spaced relation, string supporting means movable in timed relation to said bags for supporting a continuous length of string in operative relation to said bags, with portions thereof disposed between the walls of the mouths of said bags, means for sealing the mouths of the bags to seal portions of the string thus supported between the contacting inner walls of said mouths so as to provide a strand of string between successive bags, and means for severing the strands to provide each bag with its individual string.

8. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting and conveying a series of open mouthed bags in spaced relation, string supporting means movable in timed relation to said bags for supporting a continuous length of string having a series of spaced tags, in operative relation to said bags, with portions thereof disposed between the walls of the mouths of said bag,.means for sealing the mouths of the bags to seal portions of the string thus supported between the contacting inner walls of said mouths so as to provide a strand of string between successive bags, and means for severing the strands adjacent a tag to provide each bag with its individual string and tag.

9. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means for supporting and conveying a series of filled bags having their closing seams unsealed, and means for attaching a handle comprising a string and tag to each bag including string supporting means for supporting a length of string, having a series of spaced tags, in proximity to the bags being conveyed, means for inserting portions of the string between the walls or the closing seams of successive bags, and means cooperating with the string supporting and inserting means for sealing said closing seam to seal the inserted string portions therebetween and to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto extending between and connecting successive bags, and means for severing the strand adjacent a tag to provide each bag with its individual string and tag.

10. In a bag making and filling machine, having means for forming bag forming material into theform 01' a strip having a closed bottom and open top, and means for sealing the .bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, and having filling means for filling said bag sections, the combination of means for severing the strip through said transvers side seams to provide a series of individual filled and open mouthed bags, means tor supporting and conveying said individual bags in spaced relation, and means for securing a string and tag to successive bags including means for operatively supporting a continuous length of string, having a series of spaced tags, above the bags, means for inserting portions of said string between the walls of the mouths of successive bags as they are being conveyed, means for sealing the mouths of the bags to seal the inserted string portions therebetween to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto, extending between and connecting successive bags, and means for thereafter severing the strand adjacent a tag to provide each bag with its individual string and tag.

11. In a bag making and filling machine having means for forming bag forming material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and open top, and means for sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervais to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, and filling means for filling said bag sections, the combination of, means for-severing the strip through said transverse side seams to provide a series of individual filled and open mouthed bags, movable gripping means for supporting the strip while the endmost bags thereof are being severed and for moving the individual severed bags, a conveyer provided with a plurality of spaced pockets arranged to receive successive severed bags as they are delivered by said grippers, and means for securing a string and tag to successive bags including means for operatively supporting a continuous length of string, having a series of spaced tags, above the bags, means for inserting portions of said string between the walls of the mouths of successive bags as they are being conveyed, means for sealing the mouths of the bags to seal the inserted string portions therebetween to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto extending between and connecting successive bags, and means for thereafter severing the strand adjacent a tag to provide each bag with its individual string and tag.

12. In a bag making and filling machine, having means for forming bag forming material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and open top, means for sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, and filling means for filling said bag sections, the combination of means for severing the strip through said transverse side seams to provide a series of individual filled and open mouthed bags, means for supporting and conveying said individual bags and means for attaching a string and tag to each bag while being conveyed including means for inserting portions of a continuous length of tagged string between the walls or the mouths of successive bags and means for sealing the mouth to seal the inserted string portions therebetween and to provide a strand of string, having a tag attached thereto, extended between successive bags, and means for severing the strand adjacent a tag.

13. In a machine of the character described, having means for forming and filling a series of connected open mouthed bag sections, the combination of means for severing successive endmost bag sections, a gripper conveyer for sup porting and conveying. said bag sections as they are severed, a second conveyer provided with a series of spaced pockets arranged to receive successive bags from said gripper conveyer, said second conveyer being arranged to travel faster than said gripper conveyer whereby to separate successive bags as they are received from the gripper conveyer, string supporting means movable in timed relation to said second conveyer and arranged to support a continuous length of tagged string in operative relation to said bags, means for inserting portions of the string thus supported into the open mouths of successive of said bags, a pair of rollers cooperating with said string inserting means for sealing said mouths to seal the inserted string portions therebetween and to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto extended between successive bags, and means for severing the strand adjacent a tag.

14. In a method of making individual filled bags, the steps comprising forming bag forming material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and open top, sealing the bag forming material transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, filling successive bag sections, severing the strip through the aforesaid sealed side seams, introducing portions of a continuous length of tagged string into the open top of successive bags, sealing the tops of the bags to seal the inserted string portions therebetween and to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto extending between and connecting successive bags, and thereafter severing the strand adjacent the tags to form individual bags.

15. In a method of attaching a string and tag to individual bags, the steps comprising moving a series of open mouthed bags in a line, introducing portions of a continuous length of tagged string into the open mouth of successive bags as they are thus moved, sealing themouths of the bags to seal the inserted string portions therebetween and to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto between and connecting successive bags, and thereafter severing the strand adjacent successive tags.

16. In a method of attaching a string and tag to individual bags, the steps comprising moving a series of open mouthed bags in a line and in spaced relation, supporting a continuous length 01 string having a series of spaced tags in operative relation to the bags, inserting portions of the string into the open mouths of successive bags as they are being thus moved to seal the inserted string portions therebetween and to provide a strand of string having a tag attached thereto extending between and connecting adjacent oi successive bags, and thereafter severing the strand adjacent the tags.

17. In a machine of the character described means for conveying a series of bags in spaced relation, one side of the bags being opened and unsealed, means for inserting a portion of a length of string between the unsealed walls of each of said bags, and means for thereafter sealing the said sides of the bags with their inner walls in contact to attach the string lengths to the bags.

18. In a machine of the character described means for conveying a series oi. bags in spaced relation, one side 01' the bags being open and unsealed, means for disposing a continuous length of string, having a series of spaced tags, adjacent the open sides of said series of bags, means for inserting spaced portions of said length of string in between the unsealed sides of said bags, means for sealing such sides of the bag connecting the bags by said string and means for severing the portions of said string between successive bags JOHN L. MURRAY.

to provide individual bags with a string and a 

